Join Our Team as a Peer Support Specialist!
We are hiring two new staff to provide Peer Support in the Emergency Department.
Each role is 27 hours per week.
This is a fixed-term role until 30th June 2026, with a possibility the contract is renewed.
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of those experiencing mental health challenges? Kites Trust is looking for a dedicated and empathetic Peer Support Specialist to join our team at the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a pilot program that aims to provide crucial support to tāngata whaiora (people seeking wellness) during their most vulnerable moments.
At Kites Trust, we believe in the power of lived experience. We value, respect, and utilize the personal journeys of our team members to foster a supportive and inclusive environment. Our mission is to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health and/or addiction have equal opportunities to live, work, and participate fully in the community. We are committed to social inclusion through consumer leadership, and we uphold values of integrity, creativity, collaboration, social justice, and openness.
As a Peer Support Specialist, you will walk alongside tāngata whaiora, offering empathy, companionship, and practical support. Your role will involve one-on-one peer support, facilitating group activities, and helping individuals regulate their emotions and set mutual goals. You will be based at the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department, where you will work closely with clinical staff to integrate peer support into the healthcare setting.
This position requires someone who is comfortable with change and can thrive in a fast-paced environment. You will need to build rapport quickly, maintain professional boundaries, and approach each day with patience and empathy. Your personal experience with mental health will be invaluable in validating and reducing feelings of isolation for those you support.
We offer a competitive compensation of $34 per hour for 27 hours per week, along with an 8-week training program at Te Whare o Matairangi. This role is not just a job; it’s a chance to be part of a community that values collaboration and a solution-focused mindset. You will have the opportunity to develop your own projects, participate in interdisciplinary meetings, and contribute to the ongoing growth and development of our services.
If you are ready to embark on a meaningful journey and make a real impact, we invite you to apply for the Peer Support Specialist position at Kites Trust. Join us in our mission to promote social inclusion and support tāngata whaiora on their path to wellbeing.
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of Tāngata Whai Ora? Do you have lived experience with mental health challenges and a desire to support others on their journey to recovery? If so, Kites Trust is looking for you!
Please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining your experience and why you are the ideal fit for this role to our Administrator, Laura at laura.harper@kites.org.nz
We are always on the lookout for individuals who reflect the diverse communities we work with to join our whānau at Kites Trust. We warmly encourage people who have previously been excluded from the health system to apply, including Māori candidates, Pacific peoples, Disabled people, and those in the Rainbow Community.
While sending a Cover Letter and CV is one way to apply, we like to foster creativity here at Kites Trust. So we are giving you the opportunity to tell us about your experience and why you are a good fit for the role in a way that truly reflects your hidden talents, personality, and flair. This could be in the form of a PowerPoint, video presentation, or any other approach. Get creative, make it fun, and apply!
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply :)
* We are in a busy time-period and recruitment is in high demand right now, we will review all applications and aim to begin interviewing and shortlisting applications as soon as we can. *
We may close the application process once we find the right candidates.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Best regards
The Kites Trust Team
Kites Trust is an organisation which values, respects, and utilizes people’s experiences of mental health. Kites Trust works to ensure that people who experience mental health crisis and/or addiction have equal opportunities to live, work and participate in the community.
Our core belief is that consumer leadership is the key mechanism to achieving our ultimate goal of social inclusion for people who experience mental health distress and/or addiction.